What Do You Say?

 The way other people talk about you can totally affect the way you look at yourself. I remember one time, my teacher made a joke to a student she was really friendly with but the girl really took it personally and transferred out of the class. It was good because teachers probably shouldn't be crossing that line—making personal jokes about students—but it really affected this girl and our whole class. It went from being a fun class to one where everyone was tense. We also didn't want to feel like adults were judging us. 

This unique web feature is created for educators to use with their students. Each month we will feature a new question. It is simple to use. Have your students view the very short clips and do a writing assignment to respond to the question. Follow the write-ups with a class discussion. Students can edit their comments and post answers here, sharing their insights with others.

I think it's great to highlight how students may start to internalize negative statements made about them. Positive statements work in a similar way and can have very positive affects on young people in developing their self-perception. :)

What the boy in the video says is so true. I find myself feeling confident and assured after someone praises me, and I've noticed that I walk taller and have a more positive outlook, too. It reminds me of the difference just a few little words can have on someone's self-confidence.